This week's blog is on "credit education". But more than that, we are focusing on how important it is that our young people understand the gravity of credit in their lives.
The video above is an effort to give us perspective. If you haven't already, go ahead and watch it now. Then come back!
Parents have a ...

Types of Credit Determines 10% of a FICO Score -
This week we bring our FICO Score Mini-Series to a close. If you've made it thus far - you are a true patriot!
Over the last several weeks we've unpacked 4 of FICO's key factors. Today we unpack Types of Credit. Also know as Credit Mix. This last key ...

New Credit Determines 10% of a FICO Score -
Like the other 4 key factors, New Credit is all about risk management, and although 10% doesn't seem like a lot, it is! So what are you doing to help the New Credit factor? What are you doing to hurt it?
One of the most harmful things a ...

Length of Credit History makes up 15% of a FICO Score –
Welcome to the 4th post from The FICO Score Mini-Series. In this weeks post you will learn about a pretty important factor. So let's jump right in.
Your Length of Credit History is only 15% of your FICO Score, right? Yes... but before I unpack "Length of Credit History" ...

Total Debt Determines 30% of a FICO Score –
This is the third post of The FICO Score Mini-Series. If you read last week’s post you might remember that we unpacked the Payment History factor of your FICO Score. Also you may remember that Payment History determines 35% of your total FICO Score.
Read it here >> Payment History | ...

Payment History Determines 35% of a FICO Score -
Welcome to our second post for The FICO Score Mini Series. Last week's post was the introduction to the Series and if you haven't already read it, I recommend you do that first.
Read it here >> Getting Started | The FICO Score Mini-Series.
In that post, I introduced Mary and shared her ...

Do you know your FICO score? And are you aware there are 5 key categories used to calculate your FICO Score? Over the next few weeks we'll unpack these key categories as I walk you through The FICO Score Mini-Series.
Here's the thing, each key category equals a chunk of your credit score and the chunks are not created equal! ...

Today we're going to learn several money tips - twenty to be exact. But before we begin I have a confession to make; this blog isn't a list of money tips from your Grandpa - sorry to disappoint. It's actually a list of money tips from students of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University.
Put on your thinking ...

Want to be a homeowner but can't secure conventional mortgage financing? You and millions of other Americans!
There's good news for you! It's called rent to own, or (lease to own). This is leasing a home with an option to buy later. A lease purchase can make your rent money work for you instead of making ...

Debt isn't something that just happens accidentally as you go about your daily living. Actually there are spending habits that lead to debt. Recognizing these habits now will save you stress later. If you want to stop creating debt, but instead pay it. It starts with addressing these bad habits. This is some real Jedi mind stuff.
1. Spending more ...

Credit Union or Bank: Know the Difference?
Banks and credit unions offer virtually the same menu of products. In some cases, financial products at credit unions may have unfamiliar names — for instance, credit unions refer to savings accounts as “share accounts” and to customers as “members” — but at both institutions you’ll have a variety ...

Did you know that approximately 31% of Americans have a poor credit score? You're not alone!
VantageScore (one of the biggest credit scoring models used in the United States) says there are about 220 million "scoreable" people in the US and 68 million of them have bad or poor scores (lower than 601).
Having a good credit score ...

This morning I was sitting over a cup of coffee, scanning the internet for advice on finances after marriage. To my delight I came across a blog post by Dave Ramsey, a big name in the financial consulting world. You may of heard of him. He's big on money management!
In his Newlyweds blog post Ramsey ...

Have banks learned nothing from the 2007 financial crisis they caused? I'll let you be the judge of that.
Wells Fargo is in hot water with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the City and County of Los Angeles.
According to the City of Los Angeles, Wells Fargo has been sued for 3 things.
"Bundling"
"Bundling" requires a ...

If you've followed our blog here at Inversion Credit, you'd probably agree that we have provided some great content. It makes us happy to take what we know and help our customers succeed with their finances. However, one of the most challenging things is to see our valued customers not make the commitment to financial freedom, ...

Like the title implies, today's topic is all about debt. But more then that, I'll be delivering 4 options for those of you with a debt dilemma.
I'll be using Wells Fargo for our case study today because I like them. Let's start by understanding the options you have for debt relief. Wells Fargo offers 4 ...

Hi Everyone!
A friend of mine asked me a question the other day that is something everyone needs to know about their credit report. There is a statute of limitations on how long negative items can remain on your credit report. So if you're thinking that the mistakes you made with credit cards at 18 or ...

So you're curious about a HELOC? Perhaps you'd like some extra cash for home improvements? Or maybe you need to pay a few bills. For some homeowners, a HELOC (home equity line of credit) can be a low-interest option.
Let's cut to the chase and answer the question that you came here for.
How much equity can ...

May I offer you an aspirin?
Unfortunately, a pill won't help the type of hangover I'm referring to. No - in today's blog post, we are talking about the sort of regret that comes when you get stuck with the bill after that summer vacation. If you've already finished your summer shenanigans then you're reading this a tad late. But stick ...

Hi all! It's been a while! We were talking about some of your rights as a consumer under the FCRA, (Fair Credit Reporting Act) so let's recap, and go over the next right covered.
We talked about:
-Your right to receive a copy of your credit report.
-What happens with inquiries when you apply for a new line of credit ...

Woo hoo! Happy Friday!
To continue with your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, (FCRA) the next part we will cover is what happens if you submit an application for credit and are denied. Many people think that if you're denied credit, the inquiry dings your score and that's the end of it, thankfully the ...

There are several bad spending habits that we as Americans quickly turn a blind eye to. In today's blog I'd like to take a second look.
So here they are - The 4 spending habits that keep Americans broke.
Lottery Tickets
In 2014, lotteries took in $70.1 billion in sales in the 2014 fiscal year. Yes billion with "B". ...

This week's topic is Debt Consolidation. But before we begin, I'll first make it clear that this blog will not be for or against Debt Consolidation. I'll be sharing two very opposite views and I'll be sticking to facts not opinion.
Learn How Consolidating Debt Can Help You
With a debt consolidation loan, a the lender gives ...

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!
You have rights in place to protect you and your credit, but if you don't know what you have in your corner, it won't do you much good. This week we'll cover part of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). You have the right to know the name of anyone ...

We've received a lot of questions this week asking us about our credit repair process. Many customers want to know, what will raise their score fast?
We thought we'd answer this question for everyone right here.
The thing is... a lot of people begin fixing their credit by…
Trying to pay more toward their credit card balances
...

How many of us have a goal we feel like we will never reach? Do you believe you deserve it? Things like nice cars, houses, vacations, etc, that we start to feel like maybe we can reach that goal because we aren't sure if we deserve it. We do deserve it, but that doesn't mean ...

One of the most important things you can do when it comes to credit, finances, really life in general is to know your rights. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is there to protect you as the consumer. Over the next few weeks we'll go over the major points that are covered under the FCRA ...

Having good or excellent credit scores is no accident. There are actually strategies to gaining high scores. Continue reading as I share with you what those strategies are.
With anything in life, the best way to learn how to do something is to find someone already doing it and shadow them. There are 3 commonalities between ...

Happy Monday!!
I've mentioned before the importance of keeping receipts to help you stick to a budget, but what it can also help you prevent is identity theft and fraud. Saving your receipts to match up to your credit card and/or bank statements ensures that you were charged the right amount, and also that there are ...

As much as I love Fun Fridays, recent new stories have led to this break in your regularly scheduled programming.
If you have ever been in debt, you may have received calls from debt collection agencies saying informing you that you have a debt that is in collections and must be paid. Currently, scammers have been ...

So maybe you've been recently married, or maybe you're planning on getting married and doing some initial research. You've come to the right place. Today's blog post is titled "Credit Scores & Marriage", and that is just what we will discuss.
Your credit score is going to play a big part in many of your financial decisions ...

Today we will let you enjoy your barbecues and celebrating your day off, but as you do so remember that today is to honor the fallen. Thank a vet everyday, but today say a special thank you to those who didn't come home.
The least we can do is take a moment to appreciate the sacrifice ...

So you received a credit card offer in the mail? You quickly see "APR xx.x%". Do you know what it means?
Finding APR on your credit card offer
APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate... but I know you didn't read this blog post just to hear that!
What APR is Not:
The biggest misconception about your credit card APR ...

That feeling we all get when we realize the month is nearly over and we didn't get something done yet, now we have 5 days to get it done? Isn't it just WONDERFUL!? Not. Just like with money budgeting, we should always give ourselves a bit of a cushion when budgeting our time. If you're ...

With summertime just around the corner, (kids getting out of school, more daylight hours to use,) many of us who are living on a budget are constantly in need of things to do that won't break our budget into little tiny pieces. Here are some things you can do for free! Don't limit yourself to ...

Are you trying to establish credit right now? Establishing credit for the first time can feel impossible at times. Could you use a few tips on getting started? Alright continue reading to begin your journey to building credit.
Journey To Building Credit (for the first time)
Let's say I have a friend - we'll call him Austin. So, ...

Happy Friday!! Here's one more way to keep yourself motivated! It may sound silly, but....
Practice celebrating!!
Silly, right? What I mean by this ties into visualizing the win. Think of your closest big goal, what do you think you'll do when you accomplish it? Will you cheer? Call someone? Maybe buy yourself something? When you feel ...

Living within your means
Think about this: Your quality of life is proportional to the quality of your budget. Don't believe me? Keep reading.
As a nation, we love to shop, but sometimes that consumerism leads to debt and monthly financial struggles.
One way to look at living within your means is measure if you have more month ...

Happy Monday!! Hope everyone had a great weekend!
Peer pressure has such a negative stigma attached to it. I'm sure the first thing you think when seeing this picture is some jerk trying to get the basketball player to smoke. But what if it was the other way around? Peer pressure isn't necessarily a bad thing, ...

First of all, I hope the bring your lunch to work challenge is going well! If you did it, figure out how much you saved, and reward yourself tomorrow by buying lunch!
When negativity is all around, staying happy and positive is a challenge. The unfortunate part is that you may have to create your own ...

Happy Monday! One of the best pieces of advice, (and funniest yearbook quotes,) I've seen is, "don't sweat the petty stuff, and don't pet the sweaty stuff". For me, it means to not worry about the things I can't control, because it won't do anything except stress me out. It also means to pick your ...

Remember when you were a kid, and getting a gold star was worth doing the work well? No one wanted to be the only one without a gold star!! Maybe you were even super competitive and compared how many you could get in a week versus your friends, (looking back, no, I'm not proud of ...

We're all familiar with debt - yes? You've had moments you where afraid to answer an unknown number. Or that disturbing sentence "this is an attempt to collect a debt. Any information...." - Yeah you know the one.
You're not alone. In fact, 77 Million Americans have an account in collections. That's 1 in 3! In today's post ...

Happy Monday!!
I heard some disturbing news over the weekend, about how some collection agencies were trying to use scare tactics to get people to pay. When I heard this, I also realized that most of the people didn't know about the FDCPA. Since knowledge is power, let me tell you a little bit about it.
The ...

When was the last time you made and accomplished a goal, or a to-do list for yourself with some less than pleasant items, or items that required more than the usual effort? We all have those things that we find any and every excuse to put off. It could be going back to school, re-doing ...

Types of Credit Determines 10% of a FICO Score -
This week we bring our FICO Score Mini-Series to a close. If you've made it thus far - you are a true patriot!
Over the last several weeks we've unpacked 4 of FICO's key factors. Today we unpack Types of Credit. Also know as Credit Mix. This last key ...

Today I want to take a different approach, today we're comparing our adult lives to high school, to see where we might be making the same kinds of errors.
I've thought of 3 main ways we make the same kinds of mistakes, the planning fallacy, lack of motivation, and a false sense of security.
The fallacy of planning
We as humans ...

Yay for Spring Cleaning! This year, don't just clean your home and yard, clean up your credit! Imagine the possibilities that will emerge when your credit doesn't disqualify you from loan options, career options, or just how much you have to put down to rent an apartment!
A friend of mine and I went to the ...

New Credit Determines 10% of a FICO Score -
Like the other 4 key factors, New Credit is all about risk management, and although 10% doesn't seem like a lot, it is! So what are you doing to help the New Credit factor? What are you doing to hurt it?
One of the most harmful things a ...

This last week, I saw lots of articles, posts, and "advice" to stay away from credit cards. They all said things like, "credit cards will make you broke!" or, "you don't need credit cards!" Credit cards are not the only way to build credit, but people who think you don't need credit in today's society ...

We have yet another financial tip that can be applied to lots of different parts of your life!
DON'T BE AN OSTRICH! Sticking your head in the sand doesn't delay anything, or make it go away, it just makes it more of a surprise to you when it's too late. Ignorance is not bliss people! Be ...

Length of Credit History makes up 15% of a FICO Score –
Welcome to the 4th post from The FICO Score Mini-Series. In this weeks post you will learn about a pretty important factor. So let's jump right in.
Your Length of Credit History is only 15% of your FICO Score, right? Yes... but before I unpack "Length of Credit History" ...

We're going to continue with another budgeting tip, this one might sound like an unusual approach, but hear me out.
“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all."
J.K. Rowling
What does this mean for you? When you're making your budget, accept ...

April Fool's! Serious topic today. This tidbit of information can be applied to every aspect of your life. Financial, emotional, mental, etc...
What's the definition of insanity? One popular definition is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. How does this apply to your life? If you're not happy with how ...

Total Debt Determines 30% of a FICO Score –
This is the third post of The FICO Score Mini-Series. If you read last week’s post you might remember that we unpacked the Payment History factor of your FICO Score. Also you may remember that Payment History determines 35% of your total FICO Score.
Read it here >> Payment History | ...

Payment History Determines 35% of a FICO Score -
Welcome to our second post for The FICO Score Mini Series. Last week's post was the introduction to the Series and if you haven't already read it, I recommend you do that first.
Read it here >> Getting Started | The FICO Score Mini-Series.
In that post, I introduced Mary and shared her ...

As much as none of us WANT to live on a budget, the reality of it is, 33% of Americans say they have a detailed household budget, 30% say they have long term financial plans, and guess what, of the Americans who set financial goals for 2014, and stuck to it, 80% said they achieved ...

Do you know your FICO score? And are you aware there are 5 key categories used to calculate your FICO Score? Over the next few weeks we'll unpack these key categories as I walk you through The FICO Score Mini-Series.
Here's the thing, each key category equals a chunk of your credit score and the chunks are not created equal! ...

If you can't relax this weekend because you're constantly worrying about the amount of debt you owe, check out your options with our friends at American Debt Enders today! You don't have to let debt ruin your weekend. Get some relief and have a Happy Friday!!

95 Million! That's the number of renters in the United States. Why am I telling you this? Because chances are that you're one of them! If I'm right, then you will want to read this blog. If you're not a renter... then share it with one of your renter buddies. Ok, make yourself a hot cup ...

This weeks blog features a video covering a well known budgeting strategy called The One-Number Strategy. The goal is to get your budget narrowed down to "one number" that you have left over after all your bills are paid. This "one number" will quickly show you if you are living within your means or if you ...

Budgets, the word sounds like the adult version of being told to do your chores, or you won't get your allowance. No one wants to do it, we all procrastinate, or do a crude job only to be told it's not good enough to get your allowance. In the end, we do it the right ...

It's refund season and the majority of us are expecting a nice check from Uncle Sam. But before you begin earmarking your tax refund let's stop and consider a few things. Are you putting your tax refund to work, or will it burn a hole in your pocket? This weeks post covers a few money ...

WHY EVERYONE NEEDS CREDIT
This week we will cover the ever so brief, but major topic that so many people are not aware of. I've mentioned this before, but just so we're all on the same page...
If you think paying cash for everything will keep your credit score in good shape, not borrowing from anyone, not ...

You read that in The Terminator's voice, didn't you?
FHA loans, often known as bad credit loans, can seem confusing. While there are tons of details that will vary by lender, state, and individual borrower, here are the basics that everyone should know when starting the process.
An FHA loan is a mortgage insured by the Federal ...

Collections... What comes to mind while reading that word? For some it means very little, but for others it might bring to mind difficult times in the past, or even poor decisions.
In last weeks post The How-to Guide to Destroying Your Credit Score, we touched on the topic of collections. So this week we will ...

Happy Monday, everyone! In addition to "Fun Friday", we'll now have "Monday Madness Matters", and the matter at hand will change each Monday.
Today, we'll answer a question I received from one of our Facebook Friends. The question was, "How can the credit card companies raise my interest rate if I’ve paid my bills on time?" ...

The world of credit scores can get pretty ugly and everyone can use a little help when it comes to navigating their credit.
The How To Guide To Destroying Your Credit Score is meant to lend perspective. The goal of this post is to show folks things they should avoid in their credit decisions.
be intentional with your credit ...

It's time to put your credit score in perspective. I'm sure you're all aware that the higher your credit score, the lower your interest rates on car loans, personal loans, and mortgages, but how much? I decided to get a couple quotes to just give you an idea of how much a few points on ...

There will always be those bad apples in every industry, every profession, and every aspect of life. But when you're choosing something as important as a credit repair company, how do you know if what they're offering you is legitimate? Whoever you choose will have access to some very personal and sensitive information, how can ...

Credit Q&A's
Today we get to answer a few questions! There's a lot of chatter on the subject of credit. At Inversion Credit we take pride in providing accurate information to important questions. Credit education is the first step to financial freedom, and a sweet credit score.
credit education
#1. I hear checking my credit effects my ...

With the national credit score average being less than perfect, many people have turned to prepaid cards as a way to still shop online, not have to carry a lot of cash, or even receive direct deposit from their employers. But what if there was a credit card you could get with less than perfect ...

We are all familiar with upgrades aren't we? We upgrade our computers, our appliances and undergo bathroom upgrades. So how about a life upgrade? No this is not a Bruce Willis movie - even though "Surrogate" was awesome. We are talking about your wallet, and more specifically, being credit wise. Sound interesting? Read on.
In today's post we will ...

What's the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear "credit"? Most people think "cards", or "scores", but there's one that you need to remember, "report". When you apply for a new line of credit, (mortgage, auto loan, personal loan, etc...) the creditors and lenders look at the actual items on your report, ...

High credit card balance? Just get another one to pay it off, right? WRONG! How can you win this uphill battle? Knowing the cheat codes would help. Luckily, you've got a ringer in your corner. The cheat codes for this game has a few components. Having a professional in your corner for guidance will help you level ...

This week we are doing something a little different. This has been an exceptional Month at Inversion Credit. We've had several of you complete our program <<---- we are super proud of this.
By the way, a program completion means the Client had such great success in raising their credit scores that they me the goal they ...

In 2006, the original VantageScore Model was released in hopes of outshining FICO. VantageScore 3.0 is the current model, and most creditors and lenders still use FICO instead. Some of you may have seen your VantageScore, and thought, "Wow! That's a lot better than my FICO score! Why can't lenders go off of that??" Well, ...

First of all, great questions! A lot of you messaged with your questions, and most of them boiled down to these, if your question was more specific, I'll respond via Facebook messenger. When you have questions, just message us or post on our Facebook page and I'll gladly answer them!
1. Can’t I just pay off ...

Let's face it - nobody likes a dodgy person.
The sort of people that avoid things without first knowing the facts. Oh wait! I wasn't pointing the finger at you.
no one is pointing the finger
Let's spend a few minutes covering 4 popular reasons you ...I mean people... dodge Credit Repair.
They Think It's Hopeless or They're ...

With any recipe, the right combination of ingredients is the key to a successful dish. But do you know the types of credit and how much you need of each? Today we will go over what each portion is, and what the right combination looks like:
Types of credit- Various types of credit including revolving credit, (such ...

FICO - the topic of this weeks blog. Get comfortable and buckle up because I'll be doing some Q&A that will hopefully shed some light on this four-letter-acronym.
F-I-CO, or Fair Isaac Corporation was established in 1989, originally started to evaluate Mortgage Loan risk and is now used by 90% of top lenders industry-wide. Sorry to burst ...

Divorce is one of those things that has an impact on so many aspects of life, one that a lot of people don't know about is your credit. How does it affect credit? Don't divorce decrees separate who is responsible for each account? Today we'll talk about how this can affect you, and what you can ...

We've all heard of the crooked car Mechanic haven't we? You know - the guy that says you've got a serious engine problem after bringing in your sweet ride for a routine oil change. We've all had our run-ins with scammers. So what about "credit repair agencies" - Scam or legitimate? This week we are putting the ...

We have all seen The Wizard of Oz - if you haven't you should, it's a classic. Anyway, most of us are familiar with the line "pay no attention to that man behind the curtain". Oz (the wizard) says this after his phony illusion is exposed and he is found hiding behind the curtain.
what's ...

In today's Post we'll cover 3 FHA topics that have lots of folks confused. My goal is to debunked these topics and bring a little clarity. Let's begin -
#1. What is an FHA? And why so much chatter?
FHA stands for Federal Housing Administration. FHA Mortgage Loans come from the same place any Mortgage Loan comes ...

So, you've decided the time has come to buy your home. Exciting! Then you find out your Credit Score is too low to qualify for a Loan... A whole lot of us have been there and it's not fun. Having Inversion Credit dispute and remove items on your Credit Report is vital to a good Score. If you're ...